Humidifier head



Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims. (Cl. 2994-440) This invention relates to humidifylng apparahumidifying head which is much more efficient in use than those heretofore employed yfor like purposes.

Another object is to provide a device of the type specified having plural spray-nozzles arranged to direct the sprayin diiierent directions.

Another object is to provide a device of the type specified with an improved mixing chamber for mixing air or gas and liquid.

Another object is to provide a device of the type specified having a central pre-mixing chamber and an auxiliary final mixing chamber at the end of each spray nozzle.

Another object is to provide a device of the type specified embodying means for maintaining the liquid or water inlet unobstructed by, and the liquid free of, dirt and foreign particles.

Another object is to provide a device of the type specified in which the liquid valve-diaphragm is exposed to a cooling and cleaning action by the liquid.

Another object is to provide a tamper-proof device of the type specified in which adjustment of the liquid-valve pressure can be made only by dismantling the vaporizing head.

Further objects of the invention are `set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the device, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. `1 is a side elevational view of the present improved humidifying head with the spray from the plural spray-nozzles indicated graphically;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device illustrated with the upper cap or bonnet and valve-diaphragm removed and with one spray-nozzle shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a vertical axial sectional view of the device on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the two 1 inner, pre-mixing chamber under the inf'iuence of the respective pressures applied thereto and the resulting mixture fed through restricted passages into the outer mixing chambers, and thence to the atmosphere where it emerges as a more thoroughly mixed and efficiently atomized spray.

The invention further provides the advantage of double outlets to the final mixing chambers with two sprays projected in opposite directions from the single humidifier head. In general, the present improved head is designed for mixing air and water under pressure to produce a iinely divided mist-like spray adapted for humidifying the interior of textile mills and other plants. However, other liquids and gases may be used with the atomizer for different purposes.

Referring to the drawing, the present improved humidifier head may be constructed with a cylindrical casing or body portion I0, a cap or bonnet I I at the top, a bottom closure I2, and spraynozzle `tips I3 and I4. Each of the several caps or closures is screw-threaded for attachment to the main body portion or casing l0 and provided with a nut or other suitable formation to facilitate its assembly therewith and removal therefrom.

Suitable gaskets I5, I6 and II are inserted respectively betweeen the bonnet II, bottom closure I2 and spray-nozzle tips I3 and I4 and their seats in the casing I0 to seal the joints at the several points, see Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The main body portion or casing IIJ may be of cylindrical shape and provided with a cylindrical recess j forming a pre-mixing chamber 2|! partly enclosed by the reduced threaded neck of the bonnet I I. Projecting diametrically from the casing I0 are two branch nozzles 2| and 22 having their terminal portions reduced in diameter and screw-threaded to receive the spray-tips I3 and I4. The spray-tips or nipples I3 and I4 are set up against the gaskets I 1 and dimensioned to provide chamber spaces 23 and 24 between the ends of the nozzles 2| and 22 and the end closure walls of the tips. The nozzles 2l and 22 are cored out or drilled to provide relatively small channels or ducts 25 and 26 leading from the pre-mixing chamber 20 into the open spaces 23 and 24 which form the auxiliary final mixing chambers for the air and water to further atomize the spray before it is projected through restricted openings 21 and 28 inthe end walls of the tips I3 and I4, see Figs. 3 and 4.

The upper closure or bonnet II of the head is provided with an axial bore 29 opening into a larger bore 33, counterbored at 3I to form a still further enlargement at its lower end for receiving a resilient cushion in the form of a washer 32. The washer 32 may be of synthetic rubber or similar material not subject to deterioration, being arranged to seat against the shoulder 33 formed by the counterbore 3I and serving as a gasket. In the upper axial bore 29 of the bonnet II is slidably mounted a plunger 35 formed with a shouldered enlargement or flange 36 at its lower end. A helical spring 31 surrounds the plunger 35 and is normally held under tension between the top wall of the bonnet II and the rim of the flange 35 at the lower end of the plunger. The Iplunger 35 is bored axially and threadedinteriorly to receive the end of a screw-threaded spindle 39 carrying a disk-like valve-diaphragm 49 intermediate its ends. The valve-diaphragm 49 is provided with a lower hub-like projection 4l counterbored to receive Aa gasket 42 o ffrubber or other suitable material on its under s ide. The diaphragm 4i] may be adjusted axially of the spindle 39 and locked in place by means jof a threaded washer or nut 43.V

The lower end of the spindle 39 extends down through a cylindrical opening or bore 44 inthe main body of the casing I with a `,clearance around its sides as shown in Figs. 4 and '5. The orifice at the upper end of the bore 44 is surrounded by a tapered valve-seat 45 against which the resilient gasket 42 engages when the vdia'- phragm 4I! is forced downwardly by the tension of the spring 31 acting through the plungerj35. The lower end of the bore 44 opens into `a iiaring recess 41 debouching into a cylindrical chamber 4S formed in the bottom of the casing I0 which is closed by the lower cap I2. Held within the daring recess 41 is a disk-like screen or iilter'49 for restraining dirt and foreign matter from entering the bore 44. The recess 41 in the bottom of the casing IIl provides a clean-out chamber for removing any sediment of dirt or other Jp'articles in the water when the cap or closure -`is removed, see Fig. 4.

Water may be supplied to the head through va pipe 59 tapped into the side of the casing I0 with a pocket 52 at its end formed by the end of the drilled hole. A relatively small duct 53 -leads from the pocket 52 down into the Vclean-out chamber 41 through which the water underl prssure is forced and thence upwardly through the filter or strainer 49 and bore 44 to enter the premixing chamber 29 as later more particularly explained.

Air may be supplied to the head through appe f 55 tapped into the side `of the casing I0 with'a pocket S formed at its end by the Yend of the drilled hole. A duct 51 leads upwardly from the pocket 53 into the mixing chamber 20 as show-n in Fig. 5. Referring now to Figl3, two other relatively small ducts 53 and 59 lead from the end of the pocket 56 outwardly through the nozzles 2l and 22 with their ends opening respectively into the auxiliary mixing chambers 23 and 24 within the ends of the spray-tips I3 and I4.

The method of operation of the complete device,

is explained as follows: The humidifier head is applied to use by connecting the casing or body member I0 with suitable supply pipes for air and water under pressure. Prior to its use the device is adjusted by turning the .plunger 35 .o n the screw-threads of-the spindle 39 tol-tension the spring 31 for holding the gasket 42 on the valve* diaphragm down against the seat 45 surrounding the orifice of the water inlet 44. The spring 31 is usually adjusted to prevent upward movement of the plunger 35 and valve-diaphragm 40 under a predetermined pressure, for example, twenty-three pounds to the square inch. It will be understood that the compressible washer 32 also applies some resistance to the upward movement of the valve-diaphragm 49 but this is relatively slight, not in any case equal to the tension pf'the@spring31. On the other hand, the com- -v-pressible "washer `32 acts as a gasket to seal oif the bore 30 and prevent escape of air and Water ljfrom the pre-mixing chamber 20 around the edges of the diaphragm 40.

With Vthe device adjusted as above explained,

air underthe.proper pressure is admitted into the pre-mixing chamber 20 from the inlet pipe 55 vfeedingfthrou'ghthe duct 51 to raise the diaphragx-n 4Q and lift its gasket off from the valve seat 45. Water is supplied by the pipe 59 to feed down through the duct 53 into the clean-out chamber 48. From the cleanout chamber- 48 the wat?? fedsll'pwardly through the strainer 49 'and bore `44, when the valve is open, and into the prefmixingphamber 20. Due to the eccentric 'relation-"of the duct -51 to the water valve at the seat 45 there is atendency for Vthe air to whirl orswirl 'around in the chamber-20 to insure its thorough mixing with the water. The water is thus 'iinelyf-divided and reduced to a dispersed condition'asit is forced outwardly through the ducts'25fand261in theV branch nozzles 2| and 22, whence* it enters `Vtherauxiliary mixing chambers formed Ab'y the spaces 23 and 24 within the ends c-f the spray tips -ornip'ples I3 and lI4,;see Fig. 3 of the drawing. lIth-as Avbeen explained that the opening or chamber 56 at the end of the'air pipe lIi?, also communicates' with the auxiliary mixing chambers 23 and 24 `by means of the ducts 58 and 59 opening thereinto so that a further amount ofair underl pressure is received in these iinal-mixing chambers to circulate therearound and aug-ment Lthe-mixing operation by further saturationf the waterwith air. The atomized water isthen forced through the restricted ori- 'fices'21fand 28 in the nipples I3 and I4 to emerge therefrom in a finely divided spray resembling a mist-or fog. `Through this novel method of pre-mixing andl finallymixing the air and water much-'greater -e'fllciency is attained'than with other types of atomizers or humidifying devices toeffectually prevent any escape vof unatomized water. vInvother words.' a maximum mixing proportioni'o'f l`water and lair is effected by utilizing every ounce ofl air. pressure.

The device is adjusted .at'the factory as before V1e-x1'il`a'i1ied`toica-use apredetermined air pressure fof' twenty-,threeipounds per square inch to raise '-thediaphragm to open the water valve but upon adrop fof three pounds in the pressure the Water valve will be closed automatically by the spring -31`-to'lshut off the water supply and arrest operation y'of the device. Thus, a positive opening and closing of the water valve is insured and in addition to the increased efficiency secured the device operates 'with other advantages as next explained. Dirt and other foreign particles in the water Aare prevented-from passing into the mixing vchambers by means of the screen or nl- =ter 49 and any Vsediment collecting in the cleanout chamber 48 may be disposed of by removing the bottom cap or closure I2. As a further cleaning-provision, thespindlethrough its slidtion inthe bore. has the eect to'clean this water-passage and prevent any collection .of dirt therein liable to clog theaction ofthe device. The valve-diaphragm 40 being constructed of metal overcomes the defects of previously-used flexible diaphragms of rubber or other resilient material liable to deterioration and the impingernent of the water and air against its under side maintains the surface clean and free of any deposits.

It has been stated that the present improved humidifier head is furnished direct from the factory with its-parts adjusted for efficient operation and the adjustment cannot be tampered with without dismantling the head by removal of itsl cap or .bonnet Il. As a further improvement the device is extremely simple in design and construction, there being only one moving part comprising the combination of the plunger 35, diaphragm 40 and spindle 39. The device is therefore much more economical to manufacture, less liable to derangement of its operating parts and getting out of order, and more durable in use over long periods of time. Practically the only part that requires replacement is the screen or filter 49 which may be readily removed for cleaning or replaced at small cost lwithout disturbing the adjustment of the operating elements of the device.

The improved device is herein shown and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction, but various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, a copper bellows of usual form may be substituted for the resilient gasket 32 to operate in the same manner for the same purpose. Further modifications in the structure and arrangement of the device may be made within the scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims and therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A humidier head comprising a casing provided with a central pre-mixing chamber, a water passage leading into said chamber, a clean-out chamber at the supply end of the water passage, an air inlet communicating with the premixing chamber, a removable cap for closing the clean-out chamber, a diaphragm slidable in the pre-mixing chamber and provided with means for closing the end of the Water passage in said chamber, a spindle projecting downwardly from the diaphragm and through the water passage, a plunger having a screw-threaded connection with the upper end of said spindle, a spring surrounding the plunger and acting to slide the diaphragm to close the end of the water passage, a nozzle on the casing, a duct leading from the pre-mixing chamber through the nozzle, an auxiliary mixing chamber at the end o-f the nozzle, a nipple on the nozzle having a constricted orifice, and a duct leading directly from the air inlet to the auxiliary mixing chamber at the end of the nozzle.

2. A humidifier head having a main casing comprising a lower section formed lwith a nozzle thereon, an upper hollow bonnet having a screwthreaded connection with said casing section to provide a central mixing chamber, a clean-out chamber at the bottom of the lower section, a cap screw-threaded to the bottom of said lower section for closing the clean-out chamber, a water passage leading from the clean-out chamber upwardly into the mixing chamber, a screen at the lower end of said water passage, a valveseat at the upper end of said water passage, a Valve-diaphragm slidable in the mixing chamber and engageable `with the valve-seat to prevent ingress of water into the mixing chamber, a plunger slidable in a bearing in the bonnet and connected to slide the valve-diaphragm to close the valve opening, resilient means for sliding the plunger, an air inlet communicating with the mixing chamber, a water supply inlet communicating with the clean-out chamber below the screen, a duct leading from the mixing chamber to the end of the nozzle, and a nipple on said nozzle formed with a constricted oriiice through which atomized water is projected in a spray.

HUGH FRANCIS HILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,709,064 DArcy Apr. 16, 1929 1,758,165 Bragg et al Apr. 1, 1930 1,790,804 Geer Feb. 3, 1931 1,982,137 Hanley Nov. 27, 1934 2,335,935 Hanley Dec. 7, 1943 2,442,801 Di Pietro June 8, 1948 

